Improvement in steam-blowers for furnaces



` in rear of the fan-wheel i UNITED vSTATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN A. BASSETT, OF SALEM, ASSIGNOR TO OLIVER BENNETT, OE FBAM- INGHAM,MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM-BLOWERS FOR FURNACES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 49,823, dated September5, 1865.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, JOHN A.BAssETT, of Salem,in the county of Essex andState of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful jets.

Similar letters ot' reference in the several ligures refer to likeparts.

The nature of my invention consists in a steam-blower composed of afan-wheel and areaction rotary steam-en gine, so combined and arrangedthat the steam discharged by such engine while in operation shall notonly serve to put it and the fan-wheel in revolution, but be caused tomingle with the current of air induced by the fan-wheel, whereby, whenthe apparatus may be applied to the ash-pit of a furnace or to anopening leading into the same, the said steam and air may be utilizd inpromoting combustion by being decomposed upon the carbon of the fuel.The rotary engine employed may be like the Barker mill or Avery engine,and operate by the reactive effect of the pressure of steam, and thedirection of the jets maybe such as to add to the power of the blast.

rThe practical result of this invention is that no power except thedirect action of the steam from the boiler is taken to drive the blower,and by the combination of the steam with the air and the subsequentdecomposition of such steam in the fuel such steam, is fully utilized.

'Ihe engine may be placed either in front or I prefer to use it inadvance thereof, as the full effect of the steam is had to betteradvantage under this latter arrangement. Ot' course, other blast-wheelsor analogous devices may be used in lieu of that represented by thedrawings; but the form as exhibited is a convenient one and takes littlepower for its operation. By the apparatus a powerful force or degree ofblast is obtained,

the apparatus not being dependent upon any engine to drive it and beingalways ready for use, the steam, when passing through the engine,serving to set it and the fan-wheel in revolution.

To enable others skilled in the art tomake and use my invention, I willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

Through the side of afurnace, and below the grate, I make an opening ofa diameter proportioned to the size of the blower, which should also beproportioned to the surface of the grate. In such opening I place acircular casing, A, having axially within it a hollow shaft, B,supported in bearings C. Upon the shaft, and toward. its rear end, afan-wheel, D, is secured. This wheel may be placed about on a line withthe rear extremity of the casing A. Near the front end of the shaft is ahub, E, into which is tapped a series ot' curved jet-pipes, F F F,which, with the hollow shaft, constitutes the rotary engine.

The steam is to be introduced to the engine by a pipe at G, astuffing-box, H, being placed on the shaft B, in order that a tightjointmay be made between the hollow shaft and the inlet-pipe G. Steam from aboiler, being introduced by the pipe G and through the shaft B, willrush through and out of the pipes F F F and set the engine'and theblower in revolution. A few minutes will suffice for the attainment of avery high speed, whereby a large quantity of air with the steam will bedriven into the ash-pit of the furnace, and thence into and through thefuel, and inconsequence thereof a very intense re will be produced. Insome cases it may be desirable to`use a greater number of jets of steamthan in others in order to obtain a greater power of blast; but two jetsonly may be used with very good effect. It is also desirable to arrangethe angle of the jets of steam, as far as possible, to project the steaminto the furnace, and thus add to the effect of the blower by thepropulsive effect of the steam. I prefer the shape ofthejets shown at Eas giving the best result.

The distance between the jets of steam and the fan-wheel may be variedto suit the convenience of applying them to the shaft; or the jets maybe placed directly on or against the wheel, if desirable.

I have found ley/experiment that a blower of six inches diameter, withsteam jet-pipes to correspond, is quite sucient for a grate-surface oftwenty inches diameter when used under a steam-boiler. The pressurevarying from ten t0 one hundred and twenty pounds per square inch willgive speed varying with the pressure, but sufficient for the wants ofthe fire at the lowest pressure.

It may be desirable in some cases to incase the steanrjets, so that bymeans of a regulated outlet the supply to the re may be under control,and, it' necessary, to withhold it from the lire entirely. Itmay benecessary to make the aperture of the steam-jets adjustable, so that thevolume of steam may be varied with the amount of steam required.

Having thus fully explained .the nature of my invention, what I claimtherein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

JOHN A. BASSETT.

Witnesses:

R. H. EDDY, F. P HALF., J r.

